Gas Chromatography Analyses for Trihalomethanes: An Experiment Illustrating Important Sources of Disinfection By-Products in Water Treatment

• Alicia C. Gonzalez ^[2] ; Victor R. Vasquez ^[3] ; Terese M. Olson ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

     University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

     City of Ann Arbor, Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, United States
  3. [3] California Regional Water Quality Control Board, United States

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• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 78, Nº 9, 2001, pág. 1231
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Chlorination processes are an important disinfection strategy in drinking water treatment. Side-reactions of chlorine species with naturally present organic matter, however, are known to produce toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). One important class of DBPs is trihalomethanes. This experiment demonstrates how trihalomethanes form in a chlorination process by using a model substrate, resorcinol, to mimic the reactive moieties present in natural organic matter. To further simulate how bromo-substituted trihalomethanes are typically obtained in a chlorination process, bromide is also added to the resorcinol solution. Reaction pathways and yields for the formation of trihalomethanes are discussed. The experiment provides a meaningful example of gas chromatography analyses of mixtures of environmentally relevant compounds and is suitable for an undergraduate junior/senior level or graduate environmental chemistry course.